MVPT Manchester GARDENING TIPS
STAFF SPOTLIGHT Sarah Houle, PT, Clinic Manager of MVPT Manchester My road to becoming a Physical Therapist is quite unique when compared to many of the PTs I work with. After graduating from Tufts University with an Electrical Engineering degree, I pursued a Physical Therapy degree at California State University at Long Beach. I then attended Air University (Montgomery, Alabama) where I earned an MS in Military Science, followed by 21 years of service in the military, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Since then, I’ve worked in the field of physical therapy for over 20 years, focusing my care on outpatient orthopedics and post-surgical breast cancer rehabilitation. However, none of my training or education had preparedme for this global pandemic! When we first learned about the COVID-19 virus, who could have imagined that we’d face a long-standing shut down of businesses, resulting in home-bound work for so many people? It’s impacted nearly every aspect of people’s lives, forcing so many of us to put life on hold. Although I was worried about howCOVIDwould affect me, I was also very concerned about the impact onmy patients and co-workers. As someone who focuses on one-on-one care,
By: Alyssa Stuart, PT, DPT of
gardening bench for extra support and comfort. 2. If using a wheelbarrow, lift the handles by bending your knees and elbows and engaging your core. Relax your shoulders so they are not raised. Raising your shoulders and bending your back forward to lift the handles can strain muscles. 3. If stacking wood, stagger your stance with one foot in front of the other for a wide base of support. Carry smaller loads and avoid unnecessary strain on your back when you lift by bending your knees and engaging your core. 4. When raking, avoid reaching and bending too far forward. Try to stay close to the area you are raking and take smaller strokes. Avoid twisting to protect your back and shoulders. Want some more helpful tips? Check out mvptnh.com/blog for all of Alyssa’s tips to staying safe while doing yardwork.
I can’t help but develop a bond with my patients; the thought of their care ending was quite worrisome to me. The benefit of telehealth is that it has allowed our staff to take a peek into patients home environment to assess their body mechanics with activities of daily living, make corrections to their posture when performing normal tasks and come up with creative and innovative ways to keep them engaged with their physical health andwellness. Through our pediatric/ ortho therapist Hannah, we are connecting with our young patients and their families with education and activities to increase participation, to help their special-needs children be more engaged and involved in daily life. It was also nice to continue to offer in clinic visits to those patients who need a little more hands-on care, to keep on track with their post-operative protocols, andwho are unable tomaneuver themselves to ease their musculoskeletal issues. I am most grateful that MVPT has taken the steps to keep patients and staff safe while we all work together to get through this pandemic.
Spending time in the garden this Spring? Try these tips to avoid aches and pains while doing what you love! 1. When weeding and preparing your raised beds, avoid bending forward with your back and reaching too far from your body. If you are able, work in a half kneel position and use tools close to you to avoid stress on your low back, shoulders, and neck. You can also try a cushion or
MERRIMACK VALLEY PHYSICAL THERAPY – COVID-19 UPDATE:
individuals are prohibited from entering the clinics Hygiene: • Stringent handwashing and hygiene protocols with team members • Mandatory patient hand washing upon arrival • Enhanced cleaning regimen of clinics and equipment • Placed alcohol-based sanitizer in the clinics for patient and employee use • Every clinician wears a mask and we require you to do the same • Coordinating with leading healthcare and infection agencies to mitigate potential risks Are you accepting new patients? Yes! We understand that pain and injuries don’t disappear just because of COVID-19. Call your closest clinic to get set up with an in-clinic or telehealth appointment. If your insurance requires a script, a call to your physician’s office will allow you to avoid an in-person doctor’s appointment. Keep Up to Date: The situation is constantly evolving, so please keep up to date with our latest news, information and health tips. Follow Us on Social Media: Facebook: www.fb.com/MVPTNH/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/mvptnh For more information on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and the ways to keep your family and communities safe, please visit the CDC (cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html) .
give them the care they need in a safe and secure setting. Our combined telehealth and in-clinic services play a critical role in reducing stress on other areas of the healthcare system. Physical therapy helps keep patients out of doctors’ offices and emergency rooms bymanaging musculoskeletal symptoms and improving overall health. What are you doing to ensure patient and team safety in your clinics? Screening: Patient Care Coordinators are screening patients for symptoms by phone and in-person. If you are exhibiting any of the following symptoms, we ask that you reschedule your visit at the later of 14 days or the elimination of symptoms. All teammembers are also conducting daily screening for symptoms. Any employee presenting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will be sent home to self-quarantine for 14 days. • Cough • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Or at least two of these symptoms:
Our number one priority has always been the health and well-being of our patients and staff. With that as our focus, we’ve been working diligently to ensure that we continue to provide the highest-quality physical therapy services, while implementing policies and procedures to keep our patients and team members safe. Since the middle of March, we have expanded our telehealth services so that patients can get initial screenings and treatments from the comfort and safety of their homes. For higher acuity injuries, or for patients who prefer in-person visits, our four NH clinics remain open. At our clinics, we have implemented all CDC safety recommendations to ensure the safety of our patients. Why are we transitioning some patients to virtual visits? In order to support social distancing, we are offering patients the option of virtual visits via telehealth so that they can receive necessary treatment from the comfort and safety of their homes. What is a telehealth/virtual visit? Virtual visits are a one-on-one remote therapy visit with your physical therapist connected through video on your phone, tablet or computer. To assist with this connection, we will be using a program called Physitrack, a dynamic exercise- based program that is available for free. Why stay open at all? While telehealth is effective for many types of treatments, some patients require hands-on care or specialized equipment that they can only access in the clinic. By following CDC guidelines, we are able to
• Fever • Chills • Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain • Headache • Sore throat • New loss of taste or smell
Spacing and Distancing: • All care is one-on-one with a physical therapist, at a safe distance from other staff and patients • All non-essential vendors, observers, and other
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